LOCATION.--Lat 42° 45’10", long 70°
56’46", Essex County, Hydrologic Unit 01090001, on left bank 1,400 ft
downstream from dam, 0.5 mi south of Byfield, 0.7 mi upstream from Wheeler
Brook, and 5.5 mi southwest of Newburyport.
DRAINAGE AREA.--21.3 mi2.
PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1945 to current year. October 1945 monthly
discharge only, published in WSP 1301.
REVISED RECORDS.--WDR MA-RI-84-1: Drainage area.
GAGE.--Water-stage recorder and concrete control. Datum of gage is 23.46 ft
above sea level (levels by Massachusetts Department of Public Works).
REMARKS.--Records good except those for estimated daily discharges, which
are fair. Occasional regulation by mill and ponds upstream. Satellite
gage-height telemeter at station.
NOTE.--River stage and discharge values have been affected by backwater from beaver dams since approximately Aug. 25, 2003.
The USGS attempts to correct the discharge values during backwater conditions by making periodic discharge measurements and
adjusting the stage-discharge relation to the measured discharge. However, backwater conditions may increase or decrease between
discharge measurements. Rapid drops in stage and discharge may occur when beaver dams are removed. During periods of backwater
the adjusted discharge values may be in error by 50 percent or more. Discharge records for periods of backwater are considered poor.
COOPERATION BY.-- Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Office of Water Resources and Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Watershed
Management.